NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb assistant volleyball coach Jeff Wismer has decided to leave Lipscomb to become the new Club Director of Alliance Volleyball Club in Nashville, Tenn.

“It comes with a good deal of sadness that Jeff accepted a new opportunity,” Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal said. “It’s a great opportunity not only for him, but for his wife Andrea and for his career. I wanted him to stay as long as possible.”

Even though Wismer has been a coach at Lipscomb for only 15 months, he has made an impact on the volleyball program.

“I would like to thank Jeff what he’s brought to the table,” Rosenthal said. “He’s made a tremendous impact on the program and a tremendous impact on me. That’s one of the reasons why we brought him in. We wanted him to come in and challenge some of the things. From the get-go he’s done that and he’s really a huge asset to our program.”

During the 2012 season, the Lipscomb volleyball went 18-12 overall and 15-3 in Atlantic Sun Conference. LU had eight player of the week awards, four A-Sun awards and four Tennessee Sports Writers Association awards.

Five Lady Bisons were named to A-Sun postseason awards with four named to the A-Sun All-Second Team.

“It’s obviously a hard decision,” Wismer said. “I’m eager and I’m excited to have the impact that I’m going to have doing that full time and working with some Lipscomb folks over there, especially Ann Mullins. She is a graduate from Lipscomb and is one of the assistant directors. That was enough for me to re-evaluate my priorities and family is a big deal.”

Rosenthal was mostly impressed with the connections that Wismer had with the players.

“He had a tremendous knack or feel for stepping in at times and being that person as he says ‘spits the truth,’ but he does it in a way that only Jeff can,” Rosenthal said.

Even though Wismer will not be on the Lipscomb sideline in Allen Arena, he will be in the stands rooting for his former team.

“I’m real excited to shift the role from the coach to the real active supporter,” Wismer said. “My heart and my passion are in this program and I want it to be successful.”

Wismer has been working with the AVC for a couple of years while he was the top assistant coach at rival Belmont University during the last two seasons.

“Club is always a part of who I am,” Wismer said. “I’ve always been excited about the impact that me as a coach and me as a person can do in the club world working with youth from the ages of 10-18. They had approached me with an opportunity to broaden my current position and be the official club director.”

During his time with Belmont, Wismer helped lead the Bruins to an 11-2 conference record in 2011 finishing at the top of the Atlantic Sun standings for the first time in school history by sharing the regular-season championship with Lipscomb.

Before joining the Belmont staff, Wismer worked for Villanova during the 2009 and 2010 seasons as the top assistant coach and club coordinator.

Wismer previously spent time with NAIA school Taylor University in Upland, Ind., and Division III school Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa.

Wismer started his coaching career at Gwynedd-Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pa.

“I’ve been part of five other colleges,” Wismer said. “This is the one that when I walk away from this college coaching career, I most connect myself with Lipscomb and with Brandon, these girls and their families. Andrea and I are thankful for the opportunity to work with Brandon.

“It’s a great product here and Lipscomb is a distinctive place, not just with the university, but the athletic department. But most importantly, it’s the people. You see that in the alumni and the community.”